Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 15 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($392,900 vs $822,600)
76% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $501/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,791)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.4%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$1,324
$77,568 vs $76,244/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
76% lower
174.5 vs 728.5 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$430k less
$392,900 vs $822,600
Orem
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 15 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 8 and Orem wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Los Angeles to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $392,900 median home), income ($76,244 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Orem, UT are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.